A HOSPITAL worker who was flown from Liverpool to Glasgow to break up strike action was beaten up in a vicious attack.

A HOSPITAL worker who was flown from Liverpool to Glasgow to break up strike action was beaten up in a vicious attack.

More than 300 cleaners, caterers and porters, hired by French multi-nationalfirm Sodexho to work at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, downed tools on Tuesday in a protest over pay.

But unions are furious that other Sodexho employees from Liverpool Women'sHospital, Fazakerley Hospital and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals, have been flown up to the Scottish city to provide emergency cover.

The man, believed to be a manager, was assaulted and robbed, along withanother Sodexho worker, at 1am on Wednesday.

Both needed treatment for cuts and bruises after the incident and it isunderstood one of the men lost a tooth in the punch-up.

Police were called but no-one was arrested.

Carolyn Leckie, branch secretary of Unison in Glasgow, said union members werenot involved in the attack.

She said: "Violent incidents happen all the time at the Royal Infirmary andthere is no evidence to suggest any of our members would do anything like this.

We would not condone any violence.

'But we are absolutely disgusted with the strike breaking tactics of Sodexho. "The people of Liverpool will be shocked and horrified to learn that they havebeen flying people up to Glasgow to cross the picket line.

"We would thank those workers in Liverpool who have refused to help but alsowould advise anyone thinking of doing so that it is not a very good idea."

The workers are demanding full NHS terms and conditions and a 5% or #1,000''catch-up'' payment to bring their minimum wage up to #5 an hour.

A spokesman for Sodexho today confirmed that around 60 workers had been draftedin from other parts of Britain, including Liverpool, to provide cover for the Glasgow hospital.

He said: "About four Sodexho health care staff from Liverpool volunteered tocome up and work at the GRI to help maintain emergency cover, which was needed when Unison decided to withdraw their staff.

"The man from Liverpool did get a fairly savage beating and lost some personalproperty.

"He was treated, along with another member of Sodexho staff, in A&E afterwards,but reported back for duty a few hours later.

"We have no evidence to suggest that the attack had anything to do with thestrike or the unions."